Stay-applying machine.



C. R. SEYMOUR.

STAY APPLYING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FIL'BD APR. 21, 1910.

Patented Mar. 25, 1913.

10 8HEETS-SHEET 1.

Q 831 M anion 121 coumnu PLANOUIZAPH CO.,WASHXNGTON, n. c

O. R. SEYMOUR.

STAY APPLYING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 21, 1910.

Patented Mar.25, 1913.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W U w vwauto'c WHZM aaoao 2 COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0.. WASHINGTON, B4 c.

0. R. SEYMOUR. I STAY APPLYING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED APR. 21, 1910.

Patented M31125, 1913.

10 SHEETSSHEET 3.

lllllllll Witnesses COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH (JO-,WASHING'ION. D. c,

G. R. SEYMOUR.

STAY APPLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 21, 1910.

1,057,096. Patented Mar.25,1913.

10 $HEETS-SHEET 4.

ill

(QUINN COLUMBIA PLANouRAPH IO-,WASHINUTON, u. c.

G. R. SEYMOUR.

STAY APPLYING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 21, 1910.

1,057,096. I Patented Mar. 25, 1913.

10 SHEETSSHEET 5.

l/witnesses amoeutoz COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPH C0.. WASHINGTON. n :4

0. R. SEYMOUR.

STAY APPLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 21, 1910.

1,057,096. Patented Mar. 25, 1913.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

M .UAHR

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coLuMlllA PLANOGRAPH c0.,WAsmNn'roN. D. c.

avwemto'c Patented Mar. 25, 1913.

c. R. SEYMOUR. STAY APPLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 21, 1910.

5 ii if 79' @31 attozmm lmfiweooea COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH Cm. WASHINGTON. D. c

C. R. SEYMOUR.

STAY APPLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APRZI, 1910.

Patented Mar. 25, 1913.

10 QHEETS-SHEET 8.

COLUMBIA PLANQORAPH co., WASHINGTON, n. c.

0,11. SEYMOUR.

STAY APPLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 21, 1910.

1,057,096, Patented Mar. 25, 1913.

10 SHEETSSHEET 9.

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O. E. SEYMOUR.

STAY APPLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 21, 1910.

BIA PLANOURAPH c l/qhtneoaeoz 4a. 772

UNITEn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES R. SEYMOUR, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIG-NOR TO M. D. KNOWLTON COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

STAY-APPLYING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 25, 1913.

Application filed April 21, 1910. Serial No. 556,854.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES R. SEYMOUR, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certaln new and useful Improvements in Stay-Applying Machines, of which the followlng 1s a specification.

My invention relates generally to that class of machines adapted for applying stays to the corner 01' other joints of boxes or other receptacles made of paper board or l1ke material.

Vhile my invention relates generally to such class of machines and maybe embodied in machines of such class adapted for applying stays of various kinds and forms to boxes or other receptacles also of varlous kinds and forms, it has more particular reference in the present case to a machme of the general type referred to that is especlally adapted for applying fastening stays 1n flat form to the joints of corrugated paper board boxes or cartons in the manufacture of the latter; the object of the invention being to provide a machine for performing such work that will be simple in construction and eflicient in operation.

In carrying out my invention in one form thereof, I provide a machine embodying the following instrumentalities, to wit: means for feeding a continuous stay-strip from a reel or other source of supply, means for severing said strip into stays of desired lengths, a work support, and means for conveying the severed stays to the cartons or other work on said support and applylng the same thereto. These instrumentalities may be of any suitable form and construction for performing their required functions. In the present case, however, the stay-strip feeding means embodies a strip-engaging device operative to feed the strip with an 1ntermittent movement whereby the strip will be stationary when acted upon by the cutting means. Also, in the present case, the means for conveying the severed stays to the work and applying the same thereto embodies a rotary device operative to perform both of said functions, that is, to convey the severed stays from the place at which they are severed to the work and then apply the same to said work.

The instrumentalities referred to constitute an operative machine for performing the functions stated, but I also preferably employ additional instrumentalities in combination therewith. For instance, means are provided for regulating the length of stay to be severed according to the length of stay to be applied to the work, and this is accomplished in the present case by regulating the length of strip fed forward or in advance of the cutting device. Also, means are provided for acting on the work subsequent to the application of the stays thereto and exertlng a secondary or additional pressure on the applied stays to assure their firm adherence to the work.

My invention embodies in addition to these several features generally referred to, various other novel features of construction and arrangements and combinations of parts, all as hereinafter referred to in detail and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe the same in detail in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating a machine embodying the invention, wherein like reference characters in the several views indicate like parts.

In the said drawings,Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a front end elevation of the same partly broken away. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail showing certain cooperating parts of the continuous stay-strip feeding means, stay-strip cutting means, and the severed stray-strip conveying and applying means. Fig. 4 is a sectional view through line 10-00 of Fig. 2,looking toward the right. Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the same line, looking toward the left. Fig. 6 is a sectional view through line 6-6 of Fig. 2, looking toward the right. Fig. 7 is a detail view showing two of the presser rolls for acting upon the applied stays and the means for raising and lowering one of said rolls to facilitate the entry of the front end of the work between the same and its cooperating roll. Figs. 8 and 9 are detail sectional views, taken on the same section line as Fig. 4, showing the position of the operat ing parts at different times during the operation of the machine, as will hereinafter be referred to. F ig, 10 is an enlarged sectional detail taken on line 10-l0 of Fig. 2, showing the means for regulating the feed of the continuous stay-strip and thereby the length of the same to be severed. Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail, partly in section, of the power transmission mechanism. Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view through line 12-12 of Fig. 3. Fig. 13 is a detail view partly in section, showing the rotary stay-strip conveying and applying device and certain associated parts. Fig. 14 is a plan view of a carton having a stay or fastening strip as applied thereto by my improved machine.

The frame for supporting the operative parts of the machine may be of any desired construction suitable for the purpose. In the present case it comprises a main or sub-frame, including two vertical end standards 2, 2, connected by cross-braces 3, 3, and an intermediate vertical standard 1 supported on said cross-braces and connected with the end standards by suitable tie-rods 5, and a secondary or super-frame supported on said main frame and including a horizontal bed-plate 6 and two vertical end standards 7, 7, thereon.

The main power transmission mechanism is located at the left-hand end of the machine, mostly between the standards 2 and 4: of the main frame; the table or work support and the work feeding and pressing rolls are located at the right-hand end of the machine, mostly between the standards 1 and 2; and the stay strip feeding, stay strip cutting, and stay strip conveying and applying devices are located at the right-hand end of the machine in position above the said work support.

J ournaled in suitable bearings in the main frame at the left-hand end thereof (see Figs. 2 and 6) is a driving shaft 8 adapted to be driven from any suitable source of power and having thereon the usual fast and loose pulleys, indicated at 9 and 10, from one to the other of which the driving belt (not shown) may be shifted to control the operation of the shaft by a belt-shipper 11 of usual construction, which latter may be operated by a hand-lever 12 through a conneeting rocker-shaft 13 and rocker-arm 14 (see Fig. 6).

The shaft 8, which is adapted to be con tinuously driven during the operation of the machine, has a pinion 15 thereon meshing with a spur-gear 16 to impart a continuous movement thereto, which said spur-gear is loosely mounted on a shaft 17 journaled in suitable bearings in the supporting frame and is adapted to be clutched to and released from said shaft, at the will of the operator and according to whether it is desired to run or stop the machine, by a suitable clutch device, indicated generally by 18 (see Figs. 2 and 11), which may be controlled from a foot-treadle 19 through suitable operative connections. The clutch device 18, which may be of any suitable type but is shown here as of the ball-bearing friction type, normally operates to clutch the gear and shaft together, and I therefore provide means operative to engage the clutch and hold it in non-clutching position when it is desired to stop the machine, and operative to release the clutch and permit it to assume its clutching position when it is desired to start the machine. Such clutch controlling means includes a lever 20 pivoted to a bracket-arm 21 of the supporting frame and being movable to and from a position for causing a shoulder 22 thereon to engage with a shoulder 23 of the clutch device (see Fig. 6), and the connection between said lever and the operating foot treadle 19 includes a rockershaft 24: to which said foot treadle is attached, a rocker-arm 25 attached to said shaft, and a connecting rod 26 between said rocker arm and the lever 20. A spring 27 expanding between a collar 28 fixed to the rod 26 and a stationary plate 29 attached to the frame (see Figs. 2 and 11), operates said rod to normally hold the lever 20 with its shoulder 22 in position to engage with the shoulder 23 of the clutch device and thereby hold the latter in non-clutching position and with the machine maintained at rest. By moving the rod 26 against the pressure of said spring, accomplished by pressing downward upon the foot-treadle, the lever 20 is caused to swing on its pivot, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 11, and move its shoulder 22 from its position of engagement with the clutch device and thereby permit the latter to assume ll'S clutching position and start the machine. By holding said lever 20 in its said nonoperative position away from engagement with the clutch, it will of course be understood that the machine will run continuously, but if it is not desired to so run the machine, provision is made to automatically stop the same at each complete stay applying operation (to be hereinafter described), and the means employed in the present case for so doing comprises a rotary wheel 30 (see Fig. 11) ,having a laterally-extended notched annular flange 31 against which the upper end of the lever 20 may bear during the operation of the machine to be held thereby in non-operative or clutch-releasing position, and into the notch 32 of which the engaging end of said lever will snap under the action of the spring 27 upon the completion of the stay-applying operation and thereby move to its position for engaging the clutch and stopping the machine; such stopping of the machine being effected with the operating parts in predetermined positions.

The several operative parts of the machine, other than the feed and presser rolls for acting on the work subsequent to the application of the stays thereto, are driven from the clutch controlled shaft 17. The

means for transmitting power from said shaft 17 to the said operative parts of the machine include two shafts, one of which has a continuous rotary movement and the other an intermittent rotary movement. The shaft having a continuous rotary movement, indicated at 33 and to which the said clutchcontrolling wheel 30 is attached, is journaled in suitable bearings in the supporting frame above the shaft 17 and is driven from the latter through gearing 3435 (see Figs. 2 and 11). The shaft having an intermittent rotary movement, indicated at 36, is here shown in the form of a hollow shaft or sleeve mounted on the shaft 33 (see Fig. 11) and driven from the shaft 17 by a disk 37 thereon having two peripherally disposed studs 3838 arranged and operated to successively engage a so-called star-wheel 39 on the shaft 36 within radially disposed slots 40 therein (see Figs. 2, 10, and 11) and. thereby impart to said shaft 36 its intermittent movement. Fixed to and partak' ing of the movements of these shafts 33 and 36 are actuating devices, in the form of cams, which actuate the stay-strip feeding, cutting, conveying and applying mechanisms through suitable transmission devices, which latter will hereinafter be described in connection with the description of said actuated mechanisms.

Mounted upon the bed-plate 6 of the super-frame hereinbefore referred to, is a saddle-plate 41 to which is connected the main elements of the stay-strip feeding, cut ting, conveying and applying mechanisms. This saddle-plate has a sliding dove-tail connection with the bed-plate 6 (see Fig. 3) in a manner whereby it may be laterally adjustable, with its said connected parts, relatively to the table or work support of the machine. indicated at 42. As a convenient means for effecting the lateral adjustment of said saddle-plate, a screw-threaded adjusting rod 43 (see Fig. 2) having an operating handle 44 is supported in an endwise stationary posit-ion by the standards 7, 7, of the supporting frame and engages with a part 45 of the saddle-plate By turning this rod in the proper direction, it w ll impart to the engaged saddle-plate and 1ts supported parts a desired lateral adjustment according to the point at which it may be desired to apply the stays on the cartons or other work located on the work support.

Fixed upon the saddle-plate 41 1s a bracket frame 46 having a generally elongated form, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, and upon whlch is mounted certain stay-strip supporting, guiding and moistening devices, all to be hereinafter referred to. Mounted on this frame 46 adjacent to its rear end is a reel 47 for carrying the continuous stay-strip 48. From this reel 47 the stay-strip is guided over suitably arranged guide rolls 49 to a feed device by which it is engaged and fed to the stay-strip cutting and conveying de vices. This feed device, which may be of any suitable construction to perform the required function, is here shown as comprising two cotiperative strip-gripping aws, 50 and 51, carried by a frame 52 supported on a slide-plate 53 which is mounted on the saddle 41 within a transversely arranged guideway 54 therein (see Figs. 3 and 12). This feed device has imparted thereto a reciprocating movement by suitable actuating means and is operative by its jaws 50 and 51 to grip and feed the stay-strip upon its forward movement and to release and move freely of the stay-strip upon its backward or return movement. Such action of the jaws is assured in the present case by pivoting the lower jaw at 55 and causing its free or gripping end to coiiperate with the opposing jaw by a yielding pressure under the action of a spring 56 arranged to bear against its inner end (see Fig. Also, in order to permit of a vertical movement of the gripping jaws for reasons to be hereinafter referred to, the supporting frame 52 is pivoted at its rear end between two lugs or arms 57, 57, on the slide-plate 53, and is supported at its front end in a vertically movable position by means of springs 58, 58, yieldingly holding ears 59, 59, of said frame 52 against the heads 60 of screws connected to the slideplate. As hereinbefore stated, the said feed device may have its reciprocating movement imparted thereto by any suitable actuating means. Such means in the present case include (see Figs. 2, 3, and 4) a grooved actuating cam 61 on the shaft 33, a lever 62 pivoted at one end on a fixed fulcrum shaft 63 and adjacent its opposite end having a roller 64 in engagement with said cam to receive a vibrating movement therefrom, a rod 65 connecting said lever with an arm 66 of a rock-shaft 67 mounted in the standards 7, 7, of the super-frame to impart a rocking movement to said shaft, and a second arm 68 on said rock-shaft 67 connecting by a link 69 with the slide-plate 53 of the feed device to impart the desired reciprocating movement to the latter; the action of these several connections from the actuating cam 61 to the feed device being clearly understood by reference to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 2, 3, and 4 thereof. The said staystrip feed device, as hereinbefore stated, is operative at each forward stroke thereof to feed the continuous stay-strip forward to position to be acted. upon by the stay-strip cutting and conveying devices, the cutting device being operative to sever a desired length of stay from said continuous strip and the conveying device being operative to engage the severed stay and convey the same to the carton or other work to which it is to be applied. The said cutting device for severing the stays from the continuous staystrip may also be of any desired construction suitable for the purpose. As shown in the present case, it comprises a stationary cutter formed at the lower edge of an opening 71 in a plate 72 attached to a bracket 73 on the front end of the frame 16 (see Figs. 3 and 12), and a cooperating reciprocatory cutter 74: carried by a slide plate 7 5 mounted in a guide-way 7 6 in said bracket 73. The means shown in the present case for imparting the desired movement to said reciprocatory cutter 74 comprises (see Figs. 2, 3, 4, 8 and 9) a grooved actuating cam 77 on the shaft 33, a lever 78 pivoted at one end on the fulcrum shaft 63 and adjacent its opposite end having a roller 79 in engagement with said cam to receive a vibrating movement therefrom, a rod 80 connecting said lever with an arm 81 of a rock-shaft 82 mounted in the standards 7, 7, of the super-frame to impart a rocking movement to said shaft, and a second arm 83 on said rock-shaft connecting by a link 84 with the slideplate of the cutter to impart the desired reciprocating movement to the latter; these operative connections from the shaft 33 to the actuator being similar to those between said shaft 33 and the feed device hereinbefore described.

Upon the forward or feeding stroke of the stay-strip feed device, its jaws 5051 pass through the opening 71 of the stationary cutter plate 72 and carry the front end of the stay-strip to the conveyer device, indicated generally by 100, by which it is engaged and held in a manner to be hereinafter described. Thereafter the feed device makes its backward or return stroke until its aws are withdrawn from the said opening 71 of the cutter plate, at which time the movable cutter 74 is operated to descend and cooperate with the stationary cutter 70 to sever the stay-strip. As the stay-strip, subsequent to the return stroke of the feed device and prior to the action of the cutter, is held between the feed device and the conveyer in a position slightly above the stationary cutter 7 0, it would be liable to be drawn forward from the feed device upon being engaged and pressed downward by the movable cutter at its down stroke and so disturb its adjustment relative to the co-acting parts of the machine if some provision were not made to prevent the same. This provision is made in the present case by attaching a presser plate 85 to the cutter slide 75 with its lower end in substantially the same horizontal plane as the lower edge of the cutter 74, which presser plate is operative on the down stroke of the cutter 74 to engage the pivoted feed device and press down the front end of the same to move the stay-strip in unison with the cutter 74. Upon the return upward stroke of the cutter 74, following the severance of the staystrip, the feed device with its engaged end of the stay-strip is also caused to return backward to its normal position under the action of the hereinbefore described springs 5858.

The presser-plate 85 may be connected to the cutter slide in any suitable manner, the same in the present case having a verticzlly adjustable connection with a block 86 on said cutter slide, by means of adjusting screws 87, 88, passing through vertically elongated slots therein, as most clearly shown in Fig. 3. As a means for assuring the movable cutter 74: being held closely against the plate 72 for proper cooperation with the stationary cutter 70, a spring 89 is interposed between said movable cutter and the lower end of the block 86 within an opening or seat in the cutter slide (see Fig. 3), and in order that the tension of said spring may be adjusted, the said block 86 is pivoted at 90 and held in adjustable position with the spring 89 under tension by means of the adjusting screw 87 hearing against the cutter slide as shown.

The conveyer device, as hereinbeforc stated, is adapted to convey the severed stays to the cartons or other work to which they are to be applied, and it may be of any suitable construction and operation rendering it 'apable of performing such function and be within the scope of my invention. In the present case, said conveyer is in the form of a rotary wheel supported in such position with respect to the stay-strip feed device and the work-support as to receive at its upper side the stay-strip delivered by said feed device and convey the same to a position at its under side, where it is removed therefrom and applied to the carton on said work-support. As a simple means of effecting holding engagement of the conveyor with the stays and at the same time permit of the ready removal or disengagement of the stays from the conveyer for application to the cartons, said conveyer is provided on its periphery with a series of spurs or points 101 which operate to pierce the stays and effect the desired holding engagement of the conveyer therewith as stated.

The conveyer, in addition to its rotary movement, also has a bodily movement in a vertical direction between the point at which it. engages the stay-strip and the work support where it delivers the severed stays, the same being in a lowered position when the stay-strip is fed forward by the feed device and thereafter being raised to engage the stay-strip by means of its points 101. In the operation of the machine, the action of the feed device is so adjusted as to cause it to feed the stay-strip forward asuflicient distance to bring the front end thereof to a position slightly in advance of the vertical center of the conveyer, as sliown in Fig. 3,

whereby its engagement by some of the points on the conveyer at the upward movement of the latter will be assured, and as a means to cooperate with the conveyer to cause said strip to be properly engaged or pierced by the points thereon, I have supported a presser roll 102 by the bracket 73 in a central position above the conveyor 100 which is operative to engage the stay-strip at its upper side and hold the same against the upward pressure of the conveyer points when brought into engagement therewith; the said presser roll being provided with peripheral grooves therein to receive the points on the conveyer, as clearly shown in Figs. 3, 12 and 13. A guide-plate 103, attached at one end to an extension of the bracket 73 with its opposite end forked and extending forward beneath the presser roll 102 through grooves therein, as shown in Figs. 3 and 12, operates to assure the proper guidance of the front end of the stay-strip beneath said presser roll.

After the conveyor has moved bodily upward to engage the stay-strip as described, it remains stationary while the stay-strip is being severed, unless caused to operate otherwise in a manner as will hereinafter be described, after which it makes a onehalf revolution to convey the front end of the severed stay to a point at the under side thereof in position directly above the work support. In this position of the co-nveyer the machine comes to a stop. The severed stay is now said to be placed, as it has been brought to proper position for application to the carton or other work to be located on the work-support. After the severed stay has been thus placed by the con veyer, a carton is located on the work support, preferably against suitable end and side gages to assure the application of the stay thereon in proper position. The machine is now started again and the conveyer is first caused to bodily descend into con tact with the carton and press the end of the adhesively coated stay thereon with sufficient pressure to cause a firm adherence of the same thereto, after which the conveyor is caused to rotate in contact with the carton to apply the stay thereon and at the same time preferably cooperating with a roll 105 at the under side of the carton, feed the latter forward to position to be received between two sets of positively driven rolls which operate to exert a secondary or additional pressure on the applied stays in a manner as will hereinafter be described.

The conveyer, in operating to apply the severed stays to the cartons or other work as described, serves as a stay-applying device as well as a stay conveying and placing device, and while such several operations might be performed by separate devices or mechanisms if so desired and without departure from my invention broadly considered, they are preferably performed by the one main device as described. Because of the several different operations performed by this device 100 I will hereinafter refer to the same for the sake of brevity as the stay wheel, rather than by terms indicative of the character of the operations performed by it.

After the stay wheel has applied the stay to the carton, it completes a one-half revolution and then moves bodily upward to engage the forward end of the stay-strip which has been fed forward to position to be so engaged during the described stay-applying operation of the stay-wheel. The said stay wheel may be operated as described by any suitable means. In the present case (see Figs. 1, 2, 4, 8 and 9), it is mounted on a shaft 106 which is journaled at its opposite ends in vertically movable ournal boxes 107, 107, in the frame standards 2, 2, and which is also engaged at or near its said opposite ends by forked arms 108, 108, of a rock-shaft 109 which has a third arm 110 engaging with a cam 111 on the cam shaft 33. Said cam 111 operates through the said rock shaft 109 and its arms to raise and lower the shaft 106 and impart to the stay wheel 100 thereon its described up and down movements, that is, its upward movement to engage the continuous stay-strip subsequent to each application of a severed stay, and thereafter its downward movement to press the stay into engagement with the carton following its rotary movement in conveying the severed stay from its position of severance and placing it in position for application to the carton.

To impart the desired rotary movements to the stay wheel intermediate of its said bodily vertical movements, that is, its rotary movement for conveying and placing the severed stays following its upward movement to stay engaging position, and its subsequent rotary movement for applying the stays following its downward movement to stay applying position, I have provided means as follows: The shaft 106 on which said stay wheel is mounted has two peripherally shouldered disks 112 and 113 afliXed thereto (see Figs. 4c, 5, 8, 9 and 11) which are adapted to be engaged by pawls 114: and 115 carried by gear wheels 114 and 115 respectively, which said gear wheels are loosely mounted on the shaft 106 to be capable of independent movement and are engaged by sector gears 116 and 117 respectively which are mounted on the fulcrum shaft 63. These sectors 116 and 117 are respectively provided with rollers 116 and 117 which are adapted to be engaged by actuating cams 118 and 119 respectively on the cam shafts 36 and 83; the said sectors being limited in their downward movements and supported by engagement with the shaft 109. With this described means, the cam 118, operating through the sector 116, gear and pawl-114114 disk 112, and shaft 106, will impart to the stay wheel 100 its described rotary stay conveying and placing movement at the proper time in its cycle of operation; and subsequently the cam 119, operating through the sector 117, gear and pawl 115115, disk 113, and shaft 106, will impart to said stay-wheel its described rotary stay-applying movement also at the proper time in its cycle of operation; this stay-applying movement being continused to complete the second half revolution of the stay wheel as hereinbefore described.

In the present case as shown, the upward stroke of the sectors 116 and 117 constitutes their working stroke in affecting movement of the stay wheel, the same on their downward stroke moving the gears 11 1 and 115 and their pawls without movement to said stay wheel. This action of the parts will be readily understood upon reference to Figs. 4, S, and 9, Fig. 4 showing one of the sectors, 117, at the limit of its down stroke and wit-h the pawl 115 of its engaged gear wheel in engagement with the shoulder 113 of the disk 113; Fig. 8 showing said sector at or about the limit of its up stroke and with the stay wheel advanced a one-half revolution thereby; and Fig. 9 showing said sector and cotiperating gear wheel returned to their position shown in Fig. 4, and with the stay wheel, except as to its vertical position, in substantially the position to which it was rotated shown in Fig. 8. These Figs. 1, 8, and 9, also clearly illustrate the hereinbefore described bodily vertical movements of the stay wheel as controlled by the cam 111; Fig. 4 showing the stay wheel in its raised position but just about to be lowered prior to its rotation by the cam 119 acting through the sector 117; Fig. 8 showing the stay wheel in its lowered position which it. assumed and maintained during its one-half revolution as imparted thereto by the cam 119 during the up stroke of the sector 117 and Fig. 9 showing the said wheel in its raised position to which it was returned following its said one-half revolution.

In the operation of the machine as thus far described,'the length of stay handled is that measured by the distance between the cutter and a point slightly in advance of the vertical center of the stay wheel, and which is that fed forward of the cutter by the feed device at each forward stroke thereof. It is desirable however that an increased length of stay should be provided for and also that such increased length should be capable of being varied to meet different requirements according to the size and character of the cartons or other work to be stayed. I have therefore provided means for securing such variation or adjustment in the length of the severed stays which I will now describe.

In the operation of the machine as hereinbefore described, the feed device feeds the continuous stay-strip forward a predetermined distance, the stay wheel moves upward and engages said strip, the cutter then severs the strip, and said stay wheel then rotates to convey and place the severed stay in position for application to the work. Now as a means to provide an increased length of stay over that provided by the action of the reciprocatory feed device as described. the stay wheel, after being moved upward into engagement with the stay and before action of the cutter, is caused to rotate forward with the engaged stay until a desired length of stay has been drawn through the machine forward of the cutter, at which time it comes to a stop. The cutter then operates to sever the stay, after which the stay wheel is again caused to rotate under the action of the hereinbefore described conveying and placing cam 11S and intermediate connections until it has completed its first one-half revolution from the point of its initial engagement with the stay, or in, other words, until it has reached a position with the front end of the stay at. its under side and placed in position for application to the carton, after which the machine continues its operation as hereinbefore described. The stay wheel, when thus adapted to cooperate with the reciprocatory feed device in feeding the stay forward of the cutter, constitutes with said reciprocatory device a stay feeding means, .of which the reciprocatory device is a primary feed device for imparting an initial feeding move ment to the stay, and the rotary stay wheel is a secondary feed device for imparting a further feeding movement to the stay. The means for imparting such feeding movement to the stay wheel 100 is similar to that for imparting to it its hereinbefore described stay conveying, placing and applying movements, the same comprising (see Figs. 2, 5. 6, 10, and 11) a peripherally shouldered disk 120 attached to the shaft 106, a gear wheel 121 loosely mounted on said shaft 106 and carrying a pawl 121 for engagement with the shoulder 120 of said disk 120, a sectorgear 122 mounted on the fulcrum shaft ()3 and meshing with said gear wheel 121, and an actuating cam 123 on the cam shaft 36 for engagement with a roll 124 connected to said sector. Engagement of this cam 123 with the roll 124 imparts a vertical movement to the sector 122, which in turn rotates the gear wheel 121 and causes its pawl 121 to engage the shoulder of the disk 120 and impart through it and the shaft 100 a desired rotary feeding movement to the stay wheel 100. This described means for imparting to the stay wheel a stay feeding movement is adjustable to impart to said wheel a feeding movement ranging from zero to a maximum movement equal to substantially one-half its circumference, or in other words, a feeding movement ranging from the point of its engagement with the stay to the point where it places the stay in position for application to the carton. The means for securing such adjustment of feeding movement, as most clearly shown in Fig. 10, comprises an adjustable connection of the am roll 121 with the sector 122 whereby said roll. may be adjusted relatively to the sector in a direction toward or from the cam 123 and thereby have imparted to the connected sector by said cam a greater or less length of stroke which operates through the described connections to impart a correspondingly greater or less extent. of feeding movement to the stay wheel. By raising the roll 124 completely above the path of the cam 123, the sector 122 will rest upon the shaft 109 and remain inoperative, as will be the case where only such a length of stay is required as that provided by the primary or reciprocatory feed device. The particular means shown in the present case for providing such adjustable connection of the cam roll 12% with the sector 122 comprises (see Figs. 2, 5, G and 10) a bar 125 having said cam roll attached thereto and being pivoted atone end to the fulcrum shaft (33 in position between parallel side arms 122-122 of the sector 122 and at its opposite end being adjustably connected with said sector through the medium of a handled screw-rod 126, which latter upon being turned in the proper direction will operate to raise or lower the'bar 125 and connected cam roll relatively to the cam 123 as described. An index or scale arm 125 projecting from the bar 125 to a point above the upper edge of the sector, as clearly shown in Fig. 10, serves as a convenient means to permit the operator to readily and accurately regulate the length of feed as imparted from the cam 123.

As the stay fee-ding movement of the wheel 100 imparted thereto by the cam 123 occurs during its first one-half revolution from its position of initial engagement with the stay, during which also occurs its hereinbefore described stay conveying and placing movement as imparted thereto by the cam 118, provision is made for said movements by having the cams so arranged (see Fig. that the cam 118 will not be operative to impart movement until after the feeding movement has been completed, at which time and after severance of the stay, said cam 118 will operate through its described train of connections to impart such further movement to the stay wheel as may be necessary to place the severed stay in position for application to the carton. In effecting such further movement to the stay wheel from the cam 118,. it will be understood that the pawl 11% on the gear wheel 11 1 engages the shoulder of the disk 112 at whatever position it has been left at the limit of the described feeding movement imparted from the cam 123, which included the shaft 106 and attached shouldered disks.

The stay wheel has a longitudinally sliding keyed connection with the shaft 106 in order to permit of its lateral adjustment relative to the work support of the machine as hereinbefore described, and it is connected with the saddle-plate 11 for lateral adj ustment therewith by means of two arms 127, 12?, extending from said saddle-plate and engaging with the hub of the stay wheel at opposite sides thereof as shown. Also connected with the saddle-plate 4-1 by the brackets 73 is a stay moistening device which comprises a roll 128 of felt or other suitable absorbent material which receives water from a tank 129 through a faucet 130 and applies the same directly to the gummed surface of the stay by contact therewith, the said roll 128 as shown in the present case (see Fig. 3) being carried by a pivoted frame 131 which is yieldingly held with the roll in operative position by means of a spring 132 engaging its rear end and hold ing an arm 133 thereof in contact with an adjustable stop 134:. The stay strip as used in this machine may be rendered adhesive in any suitable way and at any suitable or desired point in its passage through the machine. but it has been found preferable in practice to employ a previously gummed stay and apply moisture to the same at the front end of the machine and after the strip has passed forward of the primary feed device and the cutter as described and shown.

Under favorable conditions and with certain kinds of material the stays will be caused to properly adhere to the cartons upon their application thereto by the stay wheel 100. In order to assure their proper adherence under varying conditions, however, I have provided means for exerting a secondary or additional pressure upon the stays subsequent to their application by said stay wheel. This means comprises two sets of positively-driven horizontally arranged rolls between which the cartons are fed by the stay wheel and which operate to feed the cartons therebetw-een with the stays under pressure until they reach a point at the rear end of the machine where they are pa ed over a roll 135 and delivered onto a table or other support (not shown) arranged to receive them. These sets of rolls are operated from the driving shaft through a suitable train of gearing, as indicated, to have the same surface speed as that of the stay wheel so as not to tear or otherwise injure the stays, and the rolls of one set are yieldingly supported relatively to the other so as to provide for any unevenness or irregularity in the work without damaging the same.

The rolls of the lower set, indicated at 136, together with the table or work support 42, are mounted on a bed-frame 137 which is supported in avertically adjustable position between the standards 2 and 4 by two eccentric shafts 138, 138, through the medium of pivoted eccentric connections 139 at the four corners thereof, the said eccentric shafts each having a worm and gear connection 140 with a handled adjusting rod 141 at one side of the frame as shown, by means of which the bed-frame may be conveniently raised or lowered to adjust the space between the said two sets of rolls and also between the roll 105 (which is also supported by said bed-frame) and the stay wheel 100, according to the thickness and character of the work to be operated upon.

The rolls of the upper set, indicated at 142, are mounted in lever arms 143 which are pivoted at one end to the frame and at their opposite end yieldingly held in contact with fixed stops 1 14 by means of coiled springs 145 engaging them at their upper side, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, whereby the hereinbefore described yielding cooperation of the two sets of rolls is provided. At the front or receiving end of the space between these two sets of rolls is located an upper guide-roll 146 (see Figs. 2 and 7) which is vertically adjustable to permit of the ready entry of the cartons beneath it upon their passage between the rolls, the same being mounted at its opposite ends in pivoted lever arms 147, 147, and having connection through links 148 with a handled eccentric rod 148 by means of which a ready adjustment of the said guide roll is effected.

The operation of the machine as shown and described, briefly stated, is as follows: The reciprocatory feed device engages the stay-strip and moves it forward until its front end reaches a posit-ion slightly in ad vance of the vertical center of the stay wheel, after which the stay wheel rises and engages the stay-strip by its points or spurs; then, if a greater length of stay is required than that provided by the reciprocatory or primary feed device, the stay wheel will be operated as a secondary feed device to draw or feed the required length of stay forward of the cutter, after which the cutter will operate to sever the stay, as shown in Fig. 9. Following this severance of the stay, the stay wheel is again operated to complete its one-half revolution from the point of its initial engagement with the stay and thereby convey the forward end of the severed stay to the work support and place the same in position thereover for proper application to the carton or other work. Af-

ter such placing of the stay, the stay wheel descends into engagement with a properly positioned carton on the work support to press the forward end of the stay thereon and then rotates in its lowered plane to roll and apply the stay onto the carton and at the same time feed the latter forward to the continuously operating feed and presser rolls, by means of which the firm adherence of the applied stays to the carton is assured.

The machine, other than the two sets of continuously operating feed and presser rolls, may be controlled through its clutch mechanism to operate either intermittently or continuously at the will of the operator. If operated intermittently, the machine always comes to a stop with the stay wheel having a severed stay thereon in placed position. Upon then starting the machine, the stay wheel will operate to descend into contact with a carton and roll the severed stay thereon, then rise and engage the stay strip which has been fed into position for such engagement, then rotate to draw forward the required length of stay, then stop momentarily to permit of the stay being severed, and then again rotate to place the severed stay, at which time the machine again automatically stops. It will be understood of course that if the stay wheel has been given its maximum feeding movement by the cam 123, such movement will have operated to place the stay and there will consequently be no movement imparted to the stay wheel by the conveying and placing cam 118.

lVhile I have shown and described one particular embodiment of my invention, it will be obvious that many changes may be made within the skill of the mechanician without departing from my invention, and as all such mechanical departures are obviously within the purview of my invention, I do not limit myself to any of the details of construction herein illustrated for the purpose of disclosing the invention, except so far as I may be limited by the prior art to which this invention belongs.

\Vhat I claim is 1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding a staystrip, means for severing said strip into stays of desired lengths, a. work support, a rotary device for conveying the severed stays to the work on said support and applying the same thereto, and means for bringing said rotary device and the work support into pressing relation by a bodily movement of one toward the other.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding a staystrip, means for severing said strip into stays of desired lengths, a. work support located in a plane below that in which the stay-strip is severed, a rotary device for conveying the severed stays to the work on said support and applying the same thereto, and means for bringing said rotary device and the work support into pressing relation by a bodily movement of one toward the other.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding a staystrip, means for severing said strip into stays ofdesired lengths, a work support, a rotary device operative to successively convey a severed stay to the work on said support and then apply the same thereto, and means operative prior to the stay-applying operation of said device for bringing the latter and the work support into pressing relation by a movement of one toward the other.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding a staystrip, means for severing said strip into stays of desired lengths, a work support, a device having one movement to convey the severed stays to a position adjacent the work on said support and then having a second and different movement to apply the stays to said work, and means for so moving said device.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding a staystrip, means for rendering the stay-strip adhesive, means for severing the stay-strip into stays of desired lengths, a work support, a device having one movement to convey the severed stays to a position adjacent the work on said support and then having a second and different movement to apply the stays to said work, and means for so moving said device.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding a staystrip, means for severing said strip into stays of desired lengths, a work support located in a plane other than that in which the stay-strip is severed, a device having one movement to convey the severed stays to a position adjacent the work on said support and then having a second and difierent movement to apply the stays to said work, and means for so moving said device.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding a staystrip, means for severing said strip into stays of desired lengths, a work support located in a plane below that in which the stay-strip is severed, a device having one movement to convey the severed stays to a position adjacent the work on said support and then having a second and diflerent movement to apply the stays to said work, and means for so moving said device.

8. I11 a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding a stay-strip, means for severing said strip into stays of desired lengths, a work support, a device having a. rotary movement to convey the severed stays to aposition adjacent the work on said support and then having a second and different movement to apply the stays to said work, and means for so moving said device.

9. In, a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding a stay-strip, means for severing said strip into stays of desired lengths, a work support located in a plane below that in which the stay-strip is severed, a device having a rotary movement to convey the severed stays to a position adjacent the work on said support and then having a second and different movement to apply the stays to said work, and means for so moving said device.

10. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding a stay-strip, means for severing said strip into stays of desired lengths, a work support, a device provided with means for positively engaging the stay-strip and having a rotary movement to convey the severed stays to a position adjacent the work on said Support and then having a second and different movement to apply the stays to said work, and means for so moving said device.

11. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding a stay-strip, means for severing said strip into stays of desired lengths, a work support, a rotary device operative to convey the severed stays to a posit-ion opposite the work on said support and then being bodily movable against said work to apply the stays thereto, and means for so operating and moving said device.

12. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding a stay-strip, means for severing said strip into stays of desired lengths, a work support, a device operative to convey the severed stays to a position adjacent the work on said support and then being bodily movable to a different position and in such latter position being further operative to simultaneously apply the stays to the work and impart a feeding movement to the latter, and means for so operating and moving said device.

13. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding a stay-strip, means for severing said strip into stays of desired lengths, a work support, a rotary device operative to convey the severed stays to a position adjacent the work on said support and then being bodily movable to a different position and in such latter position being further operative to simultaneously apply the stays to the work and impart a feeding movement to the latter, and means for so operating and moving said device.

14. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding a stay-strip, means for severing said strip into stays of desired lengths, a work support, a rotary device operative to convey the severed stays to a position opposite the work on said support and then move bodily into contact therewith to apply the stays thereto and thereafter return to its initial position, and means for so operating said device.

15. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding a staystrip, means for severing said strip into stays of desired lengths, a work support, a rotary device operative to convey the severed stays to a position opposite the work on said support and then move bodily against the Work and rotate in contact therewith to apply the stays thereto and there after return to its initial position, and means for so operating said device.

16. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding a stay-strip with an intermittent movement, means for severing said strip into stays of desired lengths, a Work support, a device operative in one path to convey the severed stays to the work on said support and in another path to apply the same thereto and thereafter being bodily movable to position for engagement with the succeeding stay, and means for so operating sald device.

17. In a machine of the character de scribed, the combination of means for feeding a stay-strip with an intermittent movement, means for severing said strip into stays of desired lengths, a work support, a rotary bodily movable device operative to convey the severed stays to the work on said support and apply the same thereto and thereafter bodily move to position for engagement With the succeeding stay, and means for so operating said device.

18. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding a stay-strip with an intermittent movement, means for severing said strip into stays of desired lengths, a work support, a rotary device operative to convey the severed stays to a position opposite the Work on said support and then move bodily against the work and rotate in contact therewith to apply the stays thereto and thereafter move bodily to position for engagement with the succeeding stay, and means for so operating said device.

19. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding a stay-strip with an intermittent move ment, means for severing said strip into stays of desired lengths, a work support, an intermittently acting rotary device operative successively to convey the severed stays to a position opposite the Work on said support and then move bodily against the work and rotate in contact therewith to apply the stays thereto and thereafter move bodily to position for engagement with the succeeding stay, and means for so operating said device.

20. In a machine of the character described, the combination of stay-strip feeding means including a reciprocatory stripengaging device, means for severing the strip into stays of desired lengths. a work support, and means including a bodily movable rotary strip-engaging device for conveying the severed stays to the work on said support and applying the same thereto.

21. In a machine of the character described, the combination of stay-strip feeding means, cutting means for severing the strip into stays of desired lengths, means for regulating the length of stays to be severed, a work support, and a rotary device for conveying the severed stays to the work on said support and applying the same thereto.

22. In a machine of the character described, the combination of stay-strip feeding means, cutting means for severing the strip into stays of desired lengths, means for regulating the length of stay-strip fed in advance of said cutting means and there by the length of stays severed by the latter, a work support, and a rotary device for conveying the severed stays to the work on said support and applying the same thereto.

23. In a machine of the character described, the combination of stay-strip feeding means including a primary feed device for imparting an initial movement to the strip and a secondary feed device for imparting a further movement to said strip, means operative subsequent to the action of both said feed devices for severing the strip into stays of desired lengths, and a work support, said secondary feed device being also operative in one path for conveying the severed stays to the work on said support and in another path for applying the same thereto.

24.111 a machine of the character described, the combination of stay-strip feeding means including a primary feed de vice for imparting an initial movement to the strip and a rotary secondary feed device for imparting a further movement to said strip, means operative subsequent to the action of both said feed devices for severing the strip into stays of desired lengths, and a work support, said secondary feed device being also operative for conveying the severed stays to the work on said support and applying the same thereto.

25. In a machine of the character described, the combination of stay-strip feeding means including a reciprocatory primary feed device for imparting an initial movement to the strip and a rotary second- 

